Behind the Axe: additional U.S. Open Cup adjustments bring bidding process into question

View full sizeRick Curwen, community bloggerTaken during the 2011 U.S. Open Cup match in Portland when San Jose visited JELD-WEN Field, the landscape of the tournament was supposed to be different with a new bidding system that would hopefully level the field for lower division clubs. However, as evidenced by recent schedule switches, there's still a financial disconnect between MLS and their lower division brethern.

Prior to 2012, home teams were determined by a sealed bidding process where each club submitted financial bids to the USSF and if the venue standards were met, the team with the highest bid was awarded the game. In 2012, the process for the first two rounds is that if both teams meet the minimum venue standards, then a blind draw will determine who will host the match. The only consistency throughout the competition is the host team must pay the federation 15% of the gross gate receipts above $100,000. In Round 3 when MLS teams join the tournament, the same procedure will be followed, except that the host pays additional fees. Any changes in the draw could be made if both sides agreed and the USSF approved any alterations to the schedule.

While MLS is in very good financial footing as a league, lower division soccer clubs face far more monetary concerns just to stay afloat. While the new USSF system gave them the ability to equally compete for hosting rights, many of them can't turn down the offers from MLS to relinquish hosting. In the case of the Atlanta Silverbacks, who originally were to host the Sounders, they indicated it was "a deal they couldn't refuse.", as they gained additional funds, access to scouting and potential new players, and a scheduled exhibition at a later date.